Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
High school diploma or equivalent
None
Long-term on-the-job training
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic, work in a hands-on production role that blends physical work with precision and attention to detail. Nationally, about 42,000 people are employed in this occupation, with a median annual salary of $45,690. Employment is projected to grow 6.2%, and there are about 6,000 annual openings, indicating ongoing movement and hiring in the field. The role draws on skills such as fine motor abilities, physical strength and stamina, mechanical aptitude, and detail orientation, along with science, mathematics, and basic writing and reading skills. Project management, leadership, and creativity and innovation also play a part, giving this career a mix of practical and problem-solving elements. With a typical education requirement of a high school diploma or equivalent, this path can be accessible for entry-level job seekers, career changers, and experienced workers seeking a production-oriented role with defined technical skill development.
Nationally, molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic, earn a median annual salary of $45,690. Pay varies across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, Washington shows the highest listed median salary at $51,780, followed by Massachusetts at $50,550, Colorado at $49,530, and California at $49,190. New York’s median salary is closer to the national figure at $45,940. At the metro level, several areas stand out with higher pay levels: San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA has a median salary of $60,130, San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA is at $57,300, and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH offers $55,530. These metros show meaningfully higher earnings than the national median. Other top metros, such as Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ, have median salaries of $48,800 and $45,410, respectively, which are closer to the national figure.
This occupation employs about 42,000 workers nationally and has a projected employment growth rate of 6.2%. There are approximately 6,000 annual openings, suggesting regular hiring activity across the country. The consistent 6.2% growth rate shown for the highlighted states and metro areas aligns with the national projection, indicating broadly similar expectations across different regions. For job seekers, the combination of existing employment, projected growth, and annual openings points to ongoing opportunities for both new entrants and experienced workers. Because the data show the same projected growth rate in multiple states and large metro areas, people considering this career can explore a range of locations without seeing major differences in the basic growth outlook. Overall, the employment and openings figures indicate a stable field where workers may find opportunities to enter, move between employers, or shift into related roles over time.
Career prospects for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic, vary by state and metro area when looking at salary, employment size, and opportunity scores. Among states, California has the highest employment level listed at 3,590, along with a median salary of $49,190 and an opportunity score of 67.38. Massachusetts and New York have smaller employment bases (1,200 and 1,150) but competitive salaries of $50,550 and $45,940, and high opportunity scores above 65. Colorado and Washington show moderate employment counts (390 and 1,130) with median salaries near or above $49,000 and opportunity scores in the mid-50s. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA stands out with the highest median salary at $60,130 and the highest opportunity score of 77.42, despite relatively small employment of 130. New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ combines the largest listed metro employment (750) with a strong opportunity score of 77.27. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also show higher salaries and solid opportunity scores, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV offers mid-to-upper range pay and a strong score. Together, these patterns suggest that both state-level and metro-level conditions can matter, with some areas offering higher wages, others more jobs, and some a blend of both, as summarized in the CareerGPS opportunity scores.
The typical education requirement for molders, shapers, and casters, except metal and plastic, is a high school diploma or equivalent. This makes the occupation accessible to individuals who have completed secondary education and are looking to enter a skilled production role without needing a college degree. Success in this field relies on a defined set of abilities. Fine motor skills, physical strength and stamina, and mechanical aptitude support the hands-on, physical aspects of the work. Being detail oriented helps ensure accuracy and consistency. Science and mathematics skills contribute to understanding materials, measurements, or process-related information, while writing and reading skills support following instructions and documenting work. Project management and leadership are useful for organizing tasks and coordinating with others, and creativity and innovation add value in improving processes or solving production challenges. Together, the education level and skill set create a pathway for individuals who want to build a practical, technically focused career, and they can also support moves into related occupations such as helpers–production workers or various machine operator roles listed as similar careers.
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